Best Credit Cards For Your Credit Score

In a sea of credit card offers that boast endless rewards and low interest rates, it can be difficult to reel in the perfect card for your needs. Sometimes the best way to decide is to let your credit score choose for you.

People with great credit can get better interest rates and the best offerings when it comes to rewards if they apply for cards aimed at those with excellent credit. On the other hand, it is important for those with less-than-stellar credit to apply for credit cards they have the best chance of being approved for, as applying for multiple credit cards can lower your credit score even further.

While all credit scoring models differ, a "great" or "excellent" credit score is usually above 750 and "good" credit scores are around 700. An "average" credit score is considered to be around 650, and anything below a 600 credit score usually falls in the "bad"category.

Note that even if your credit score falls in the desired credit score range for the credit cards cited below, this does not necessarily mean you will be approved. Your chances of being approved are still very good, however it is important to keep in mind that factors besides credit score go into approval decisions and each issuer may use different scoring models.

Not sure what your credit score is? You can get your credit scores for free by signing up for a credit report monitoring service here. Though most of these credit report monitoring services provide scores from the CreditXpert model, we found that these are a close approximation of the FICO scores that many credit card issuers often use.

Whether you have excellent credit or your score is hovering at the end of the spectrum, here are the best credit cards for your credit score:

Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit:

Citi Simplicity® CardThe Citi Simpilicity Card is one of our overall top choices for credit cards thanks to its 18 month 0% intro APR, which is the longest interest-free period for both purchases and balance transfers that we've seen in a card. This credit card has no late fees or penalty rates, plus there is no annual fee. People with excellent credit looking to make large purchases or complete a balance transfer will really benefit from the long interest-free period on the card. In general, you can't go wrong with this one.

Barclay Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard
If you have great credit and love to travel, this credit card has the best travel rewards around. Cardholders can earn 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases with no mileage caps or foreign transaction fees. Plus, you will earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days, which is equivalent to $400 worth of travel. As if that weren't enough, when you use your earned miles to pay for travel, you will get 10% of the miles back. For those who want to keep an eye on their credit score and make sure it stays in good-standing, this card also provides complimentary FICO scores. There is an annual fee of $89, but it's waived the first year.

Best Credit Cards for Good Credit:

Chase Freedom®
Usually cards with perks like these are reserved for those with excellent credit, but not the Chase Freedom card. This card features 0% interest for the first 15 months, a $100 cash back bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months and no annual fee. In addition, cardholders will earn unlimited 5% cash back in categories that rotate quarterly and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Not only will this card help you save money on interest, but you can essentially earn money while you shop.

Slate® from Chase
Chase Slate is the best-rated balance transfer card for people with good or excellent credit. Unlike most credit cards, there is no balance transfer fee, and cardholders will get 0% APR on both purchases and balance transfers for a whopping 15 months. There is no annual fee either, so you can start saving money on interest for free!

Best Credit Card for Average Credit

Barclay Rewards Mastercard® – Average Credit
Just because you have average credit doesn't mean you have to miss out on earning rewards while you shop. The Barclay Rewards Mastercard for average credit earns users 2 points per $1 on gas, grocery, and utility purchases and 1 point per $1 everywhere else. This card reports to all three major credit bureaus monthly, which provides a great opportunity to rebuild your credit score, and you will also get complimentary FICO scores so you can see how your credit is doing. Plus, there is no annual fee.

Best Credit Card for Bad Credit:

Capital One® Secured Mastercard®
This secured credit card gives those with bad credit an opportunity to fix their credit score dilemma. With secured credit cards, users put down a security deposit when they are approved for the card, so it is hard to be turned down for a secured card, regardless of your credit score. Don't let the name "secured credit card" fool you — it looks and works like any other credit card so no one but you needs to know it's a secured card. The Capital One Secured Mastercard reports to the three credit bureaus, so if you make your payments on time, you can help improve your credit score with good payment behavior. After using the card responsibly and boosting your credit score, you may eventually be eligible for an unsecured credit card.

Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of the credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through the credit card issuer Affiliate Program.

My credit union has a Visa card with 1.5% cash back on everything, all the time. No annual fee.
Beat that.

KatherineOctober 8, 2014

My family always say that I am wasting my time here at net, however I
know I am getting experience everyday by reading thes good articles.

IsidroJune 30, 2014

Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular post!
It's the little changes which will make the most significant changes.
Thanks a lot for sharing!

J HUtchinsonJune 22, 2014

Shy isn't Amex listed on here ?

get carterJune 21, 2014

i almost have no credit, i opened a secured credit card 10 months ago with $200 and now i just applied for a Bank of America student card and they approved me for $1000 , i am sooo happy

Charles MadridJune 11, 2014

Is it bad for credit if you make a substantial payment on your credit card then right away use that card spending the payment amount.

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George MacDonaldMay 19, 2014

The freedom card by char is good but know that if you miss the payment date by a day, that low interest rate jumps to 30% indefinitely. The discover it card is a better option with a slightly lower APR and no late penalty the first offense. Stuff happens, nice to have a card that forgives at l re at once. Also, discover it has 100% AMERICAN based customer support. Good bye HABIB

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Jim LApril 30, 2014

Most Credit Unions have credit cards that offer a much lower ARP than major banks including the credit cards listed above.

Alex FrazierApril 25, 2014

You're so right about how trying and being rejecting for credit lowers your score. I got really upset with a major retailer here in my town that assured me that I'd be approved for one of their store cards. After I naturally, as suspected, was rejccted, my credit score dropped even further. I think sometimes, that's done on purpose. They say at 1st if you don't succeed, try and try again, and if you fall off a horse, get right back on. "WHAT LIES"!

Josephine BassApril 25, 2014

Thanks Barclay, this is the best card I have ever had!

FrankApril 24, 2014

I have a credit score of 837 & have always used Visa.

JakeApril 11, 2014

Enjoying the Citi card even after the 18 month 0 APR is over. The card shivers my timbers everytime I use it. I'm so lonely at times that all I have is my hand and my card. It's awesome. I fell in love.

rainmanolyApril 11, 2014

Is this just a fluff piece? Why are the cards Master Card?

Milind AiyaApril 8, 2014

I need the Credit Card, as i am a big Shopper and Movie Buff, can use the card in all the malls and shop alot, i hope i get this card which is really Fantastic.

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These responses are not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. It is not the credit card issuer's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

About Author

Polina Polishchuk

Polina is a NextAdvisor editor who covers credit report monitoring services, Internet fax, email marketing services and online diet programs, among other consumer and business services. She is a UC Berkeley graduate who currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area and previously wrote for CNET. When she's not tinkering with online services, she's going to shows, rock climbing or eating sushi.

Advertiser Disclosure: NextAdvisor.com is a consumer information site that offers free, independent reviews and ratings of online services. We receive advertising revenue from most but not all of the companies whose products and services we review. For credit cards, we review cards from all of the top 10 US issuers by purchase volume (according to Issue 1035 of The Nilson Report, Feb 2014) excluding issuers that require additional accounts to be a cardholder and private label issuers. We may also review cards from other issuers in select cases. We do not review all products in a given category. We are independently owned and operated and all opinions expressed on this site are our own.